Cuticular lipids of insects

Abstract

Cuticular lipids cover nearly all parts of insect and are the chief agent for restricting water loss. The structure of insect epicuticles is reviewed, with emphasis on the role of cuticular lipids and the metabolism of cuticular lipids. The chemical composition of insect cuticular lipids are discussed with particular emphasis on the types in which hydrocarbons, was esters and fatty alcohols predominate. What little evidence is available on the biosynthesis of insect cuticular lipids is discussed.

Hydrocarbons in the millipede Graphidostreptus tumuliporus (Karsch) (Myriapoda: Diplopoda)—I. In vivo incorporation of 14C-labelled precursors into the hydrocarbon fraction

“…Jackson & Baker (1970) provided evidence for incorporation of labelled fatty acids and several other precursors into the hydrocarbons of the same species, supplying the view of a direct or indirect relationship between fatty acid and hydrocarbon synthesis (Albro & Dittmer, 1970;Kolattukudy, 1970a, b). Hydrocarbon biosynthesis of arthropods other than insects has scarcely been reported.…”

“…Clear differences between 1-14C -and 16-14C-palmitic acid incorporation into hydrocarbons are reported by Jackson & Baker (1970) for Periplaneta americana and by Albro et al (1970) for the microorganism Sarcina lutea.…”

“…in scale insects (Tamaki, 1966;Tamaki and Kawai, 1968;Jackson & Baker, 1970) and beeswax (Tulloch, 1970).…”

“…In vivo studies with radioactive precursors like acetate have demonstrated that several insects are capable of synthesizing hydrocarbons: Dermestes vulpinus (Clark & Bloch, 1959), Musca domestica (Robbins et al, 1960), Periplaneta americana (Louloudes et al, 1961;Nelson, 1969;Jackson & Baker, 1970), Nezara viridula (Gordon et al, 1963), Apis mellifera (Pick, 1964), .4nthonomus grandis (Lambremont et al, 1966), Oulema melanopus (Lamb & Monroe, 1968) and Hellothis zea (Lambremont & Graves, 1969).…”

Hydrocarbons in the land snail Cepaea nemoralis (L.) (gastropoda, pulmonata)

“…INTRODUCTION IN THE last decade many representatives of plants as well as animals have been studied for the occurrence and structure of hydrocarbons (reviews: Eglinton & Hamilton, 1967;Albro & Dittmer, 1970;Jackson & Baker, 1970;Kolattukudy, 1970a, b). The hydrocarbons of most species investigated constitute one of the major classes of lipids, especially in the cuticle.…”